Preview: NEC vs. FC Utrecht - prediction, team news, lineups

Utrecht, on the other hand, make the journey to Nijmegen this weekend aiming to avoid a third defeat on the bounce across all competitions.

Match preview

FC Utrecht suffered a first home league loss since October as they were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Fortuna Sittard at the Stadion Galgenwaard on Friday.

Michael Silberbauer's men opened the scoring just shy of the hour mark through Anastasios Douvikas after which goals from Kristijan Bistrovic and Tijjani Noslin turned the game on its head.

That defeat saw the Domstedelingen lose further ground on their rivals in the race for European qualification but they remain seventh in the Eredivisie table.

Lying in store next is the task of facing off against an opposing outfit who are winless in the most recent six editions of this fixture dating back to 2016.

Having scored as many goals as they have conceded on enemy territory this term, Sunday's visitors will need to tighten up at the back to stand a good chance of coming out on top here.

NEC Nijmegen fell to a 1-0 defeat against Eredivisie champions Ajax when the sides went head to head at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on Sunday night.

Despite under the cosh for the majority of the affair, Rogier Meijer's men were breached just once through Mohammed Kudus's 52nd-minute opener, although that turned out to be the all-important moment.

As a result, the Eniesee have dropped down to 10th place in the standings, one points adrift of the top half and further six behind the final continental playoff spot.

Unbeaten in 12 straight home matches leading up to Sunday's match, the hosts have proven themselves to be a tough nut to crack in front of their fans.

NEC Eredivisie form:

D

L

D

W

W

L

NEC form (all competitions):

L

L

D

W

W

L

FC Utrecht Eredivisie form:

D

W

L

D

W

L

FC Utrecht form (all competitions):

W

L

D

W

L

L

Team News

Bas Dost and Calvin Raatsie remain out of contention for Utrecht through foot and ankle problems respectively, while Taylor Booth continues his battle with a knock.

Can Bozdogan and Django Warmerdam are also unavailable for the hosts due to knee injuries and they are joined on the sidelines by veteran defender Nick Viergever.

Off the back of a four-game goal drought, Anastasios Douvikas has found the back of the net in his last two outings, making him one to keep an eye on here.

Twenty-one-year-old Mathias de Wolf remains out of contention for NEC through a muscle problem and he is still a long way off making his return to action

Robin Roefs was fit enough to be named on the bench last time out following his return from an injury layoff but this weekend's action is expected to come too soon for the Dutchman.

NEC possible starting lineup:

Cillessen; El Karouani, Sandler, Marquez, Van Rooy; Proper, Schone; Mattsson, Tannane, Tavsan; Dimata

FC Utrecht possible starting lineup:

Barkas; Klaiber, Van der Hoorn, Sagnan, Van der Maarel; Van de Streek, Toornstra, Boussaid; Maeda, Douvikas, Labyad

We say: NEC 1-1 FC Utrecht

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